CULTURAL CARNIVAL 2021

CULTURAL CARNIVAL

PRAISE NIGHT DAY 1

Opening prayer was said by one of the NFCSers. Soon after that, a member of the All Saints Catholic Chaplaincy lead the Holy Rosary while the rosary was on, people were still the trooping in. soon after the 30 minutes prayer, and the All Saint Band gave some warm worship sounds.

Lumen Christi Press gathered that more participants rushed in as the NFCs anthem was about to be taken. Furthermore, the NFCS president welcomed the entire members present at the programme, telling them to open up towards the praise and worship so as to unite together despite the different tribes in the chaplaincy (i.e. Igbo. Tiv, Igala, Marghi, Hausa, Fulani, etc.). More to that, from our report, Lumen Christi has it that the floor of worship presentation was declared open to St. Augustine Catholic Parish Choir

, Maiduguri who performed wonderfully well. Moreover, the praise band of St. Augustine ministered with a song titled “FRAGRANCE OF WORSHIP”.

The praise band did more than expected, giving some beautiful dancing steps which made the church to be filled with joy and happiness. 

THE EXALTATION

Next was the exaltation by Rev. Fr. Saminu Harba, who was ably represented by Seminarian Thomas Peter Ijasini. There was a brief cultural dance intro too just before the message. 

The Exaltation Proper

Seminarian Thomas Peter spoke about the cultural carnival theme: DIFFERENT CULTURES, ONE NATION. The bible text was from the gospel of John 4:4-6, concerning the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. He mentioned that the Greeks identified some classes of people in their society: the law abiding citizens, who considered everything as cultural, including their forms of religion. He also identified the idiots, who had lackadaisical attitudes towards almost everything. He then asked where the Nigerian citizenry could be identified as. The congregation answered “idiots”, signaling the attitude of the citizens. He further stressed that as a people under God, we need to discard all the odd aspects of our cultures not in line with the word of God, and that which cannot move Nigeria forward. He further advised that for unity, we would have to learn to adapt to other cultures. Seminarian Thomas Peter further reiterated the positive aspects of culture as; agent of communication, a tool for social living, use of language for progress and not divide us. He said we should learn to be nation builders with our unique cultures. The satisfied participants cheered and clapped. 

Next was the presentation by All Saints Chaplaincy Choir. Who took their first song “Va se civir nen Ter Yeus”, a Tiv song. This was followed by encouraging words by the NFCS Papa. There was also a disturbing news about the kidnapping of the mother of a fellow NFCSer. For that, he pleaded for prayers and fasting and announced that there would be mass on behalf of that the following morning(Friday)

Closing Remarks was made by the Chairman of the Cultural Carnival 2020/2021 Session, Brother Charles MacKay.

The closing prayer was done by the the NFCS President at exactly 8:05pm. 

popcorn and zobo being sold at the church garden.

INTERVIEWS

Lumen Christi: this is Lumen Christi Press, All Siants Chaplaincy, UNIMAID. Can we know you please and what are expectations for the program?

#1. Sis Saduwo Banyawa(Mass Communication). I am excited to be part of the program and looking forward to the presentations by the praise band and the choir

#2.Brother John Paul. (Dressed in an Igbo attire carrying a red, black and green combination) As pointed out by the theme, my expectations are to see the different cultures present together as one.

#3. Brother Orbum  Joseph, a Final Year Brother, FYB (dressed in black and white attire). I am Tiv by tribe. The black and the white are the cultural colors of my people and the attire signified the fertility of the tiv.

#3. Brother Orbum Joseph: I look forward seeing the congregation singing in different dialects. I really expect the singing to be wonderful.

#4. Brother Emmanuel Onyekwuere Ndubueze, the NFCS Papa. I am Igbo by tribe. I am here to praise God as an Igbo man. My expectations are that every other tribe sings and worships God in their own tribes.

#5. Brother Lawrence: I am Igala by tribe.

Lumen Christi: you are not wearing your traditional attire, why is that?

#5. Lawrence. I regret not putting on the attire even though I was coming from somewhere and couldn’t put on mine.

Lumen Christi: what are your expectations for the evening?

#5. Lawrence. I just came to praise God.

EVENT COVERED BY LUMEN CHRISTI PRESS.

WE ENCOURAGE READING AND APPRECIATE WRITING.